Mobile teams to go up by 10 pc for pulse polio

The number of mobile teams constituted for the pulse polio campaign 2014 will go up by 10 per cent, according to the Department of Health and Family Welfare.

The department is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that every child below the age of five is given the polio immunisation. In an attempt to reach out to every corner of the State, these mobile teams will function on January 19 and the following few days. These teams would mainly target children below five years of age in slum areas and areas having a migratory population.

The mobile teams would go on rounds in the Bangalore Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike areas, Bangalore Urban district, Mysore City Corporation areas, Hubli-Dharwad Corporation areas, Mangalore, Belgaum, Gulbarga, Tumkur and Davangere.“Also, 1,750 transit teams with a minimum of two members each will be constituted to ensure that places such as railway stations, airports and bus stops are covered,” said Dr Husensaheb M Khaji, deputy director, immunisation, in the department. Members of these teams who work on eight-hour shifts will ensure that round-the-clock service is provided.

Khaji said that, in the State, no polio case has been reported since 2007. However, it is important to keep tabs on the migratory population to ensure that the situation continues to be good. The deputy director said that as considerable number of people migrated in the October-March period, more focus must be on them.

The State needs an estimated 95 lakh polio drug units every year. “For the present year, 32,030 polio drops booths have been set up across the State to ensure 100 per cent coverage,“ Khaji said.

U T Khader, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, confirmed that there will be an increase in the number of mobile teams. However, there will be an increase in the number of booths only if needed.

For those migrating from or to Afghanistan, Kenya, Israel, Ethiopia, Somalia, Nigeria and Pakistan, there must be confirmation of immunisation on the yellow card, while providing visa.

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